Can I drive in California with a China driver's license?

Driving with a China driver's license is different in the United States, because the laws in different states are different. The following is the official question and answer of California Police Department, hoping to clarify your doubts.

Q: Can a China driver's license be used in California? Can an international driver's license be used in California?

A: If you are a tourist to California and have a legal driver's license from your country, you can drive in California without a California driver's license as long as your country's driver's license is still valid. The California government recognizes the driver's license issued by the government (country, state and territory) where the driver lives as a legal document. If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver's license within 10 days.

The California government does not recognize an international driver's license as a legal driver's license. The international driver's license is only a translation of your national driver's license. You don't need to drive in California. We advise foreign drivers to bring other identification materials, such as your passport, when driving.

In addition, non-California residents below 18, with foreign driver's license, can only drive in California for 10 days. 10 days later, minors who are not local residents must obtain the certificate of minors who are not local residents from the motor vehicle management office before driving. And when obtaining this certificate, you must provide proof of economic responsibility. Non-local minors serving in the army with foreign driver's license can drive in California for 60 days without California driver's license or non-local minor certificate.

Theoretically, China's driver's license is not a legal document in the United States (individual states are different) and Europe, because the China government has not signed any agreement with any country in this regard. There is no international so-called "international driver's license". China people who travel in the United States with a B 1B2 tourist business visa can "legally" rent a car with a China driver's license. The so-called international driver's license handled by some domestic intermediaries for China citizens is actually a "fake foreign license", which is expensive and essentially a piece of waste paper.

It is true that the United States and Europe have international driver's licenses, because more than 60 countries and regions around the world have signed the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic and recognized each other's driver's licenses. Because of different languages, citizens of these countries should bring English certificates issued by their own driver's license management agencies when they go to other countries with agreements. This English certificate is called an international driver's license. This so-called international driver's license must be used at the same time as your own driver's license to be valid. Since China is not in this agreement, the traffic police department in China will certainly not issue English certificates. It is impossible for China citizens to get an "international driver's license".

The following is a list of States in the United States. Do you allow B 1/B2 visa holders to use domestic driver's licenses?

Alabama, yes, 16/+ (meaning more than 16)

Alaska, yes, 90 days, 16/+

Arizona, yes.

Arkansas, no, I need it

California, yes, 18+

Colorado, yes, 16/+

Connecticut, no, I need IDP

Delaware, yes, 16+

Florida, yes,16/+; (The state legislature amended this clause in 20 12. From 20 13, you can't legally drive in Florida with a China driver's license, but the state traffic control department issued a statement on February 20 14 14, and will not enforce the law for the time being. Recently, the governor of Florida signed Decree H7059 on April 2, abolishing the requirement that foreigners must hold an international driver's license when driving in Florida last year, and everyone can continue driving with a valid driver's license.

Georgia, yes.

Hawaii, no, need IDP

Idaho, yes.

Illinois, yes, throughout the legal visit.

Indiana, yes, 16.5/+

Iowa, yes.

Kansas, yes

Kentucky no I need IDP.

Louisiana, yes, 90 days.

Maine, yes, 16/+

Maryland, yes.

Massachusetts, no

Michigan, no

Minnesota, yes, 15/+

Mississippi, yes, 60 days, 18/+

Missouri, yes, 16/+

Montana, yes, 15/+

Nebraska, yes, 30 days.

Nevada, yes, 16/+

New Hampshire, no, the state law, title 2 1, motor vehicles, does not clearly specify the specific country recognized by the state to issue foreign driver's licenses, and the exemption clause applies to the States/provinces/countries that recognize driver's licenses mutually.

New jersey, no

New Mexico, yes, 15/+

New york, yes.

North Carolina, yes

North Dakota, yes, 16/+

Ohio, yes.

Oklahoma, yes, 16/+

Oregon, yes, 16/+

Pennsylvania, yes, 16/+

Rhode Island, yes, 16/+

South Carolina, yes, 16/+

South Dakota, yes, 16/+

Tennessee, yes.

Texas, no

Utah, yes, six months. 16/+

Vermont, no

Virginia, yes, 16.25/+

Washington state, yes, 1 year, 16/+

West Virginia, yes, 90 days. 16/+

Wisconsin no I need IDP

Wyoming, yes.

Washington, D.C. Yes, 30 days.

Remember, the regulations in different States in the United States are different. Please check for yourself and make no mistakes. Only the driver's license and passport of China are needed in the permitted places, and no other translation materials are needed!

Next, let's take a look at the regulations of other countries on the use of driver's licenses in China.

1, South Korea: China's driver's license was blocked in South Korea.

1 18 10 18, the state Council of the Korean government passed the draft Jeju special law, allowing Korean tourists to rent a car in Jeju Island, causing social controversy in southern China. The objection is that China and South Korea have not signed an agreement on the general driver's license of South Korea, so it is "premature" for the government to let Koreans drive in Jeju Island. China's driver's license was blocked in South Korea.

2. Japan: China driver's license cannot be used directly.

China driver's license cannot be used directly in Japan, which only recognizes international driver's license and China Taiwan Province driver's license. China people must hold a long-term stay visa to get a Japanese driver's license. However, it is not so easy for China people to get a Japanese driver's license, because the traffic rules in Japan are different from those in China. For example, Japanese drive on the left, and the steering wheel position is opposite to that of China, which is on the right.

3. Canada: China driver's license is valid for 6 months.

Although Canada is also a federal country, according to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, all provinces adopt the same rules for China as most foreign driver's licenses, that is, China tourists can drive in the province for six months with a valid China driver's license. If you are a Canadian permanent resident, your China driver's license can be used for 3 months. China students with valid student visas can travel legally with China driver's license while studying abroad. If you have been driving for more than two years, you can directly take the traffic regulations, and you can directly take the official driver's license through the traffic regulations.

4. France: driver's license is recognized for one year.

A foreign driver's license is valid in France for a period of time until the right of normal residence is obtained. When returning to France, the residence is officially suspended and the new residence permit is lost: the foreign driver's license is recognized for one year. Foreign driver's license must be within the validity period. In addition, the driver's license must be issued before the first residence permit. The driver's license is written in French or accompanied by an official translation. You must apply for changing your foreign driver's license into a French driver's license within one year after you obtain your habitual residence in France. If you can't change your driver's license, you must pass the French driver's license test again, which contains theory and practice. Driving license is recognized while studying in France. If the study is realized, the driver's license will remain in France and must be replaced within one year, and the period will follow the residence permit.

5. UK: China driver's license can be used for one year.

Chinese mainland driver's license can be used in the UK for one year, and Hong Kong driver's license can be used freely in the UK. British cars drive on the right, so China people need to get used to driving in Britain. First of all, we should take the theoretical part. The theory not only includes multiple-choice questions, but also allows candidates to find out potential dangers according to video clips. Road test up to 30 times.

6. Germany: China's driver's license is "valid" for half a year.

China driver's license also "works" in Germany. When driving in Germany, drivers from China must bring their own driver's license and a translation designated by the German court or a German driver's license document certified by the German Embassy in China, but the validity period is 6 months. If the residence permit exceeds 12 months, you must take a driver's license test in a German driving school. German driver's license is the most difficult test in the world. First of all, you have to pass the eyesight test, then you have to complete the 8-hour first aid class, and then you have to take at least 14 theory class and 12 driving class, including expressway and night driving. And the driving test is very expensive, more than 2000 euros.

7. New Zealand: China driver's license can be legally used for one year.

In New Zealand, tourists or international students who hold a China driver's license can legally drive for one year every time they enter New Zealand, as long as they obtain a translation of the driver's license issued by a translation agency certified by the New Zealand Transportation Bureau. Many China people who have lived in New Zealand for many years still use China driver's license, because it is not easy to get a New Zealand driver's license. Candidates must obtain a learner's driver's license and be accompanied by a New Zealand "official driver's license" for more than two years before applying for a "restricted" driver's license, and then apply for a "official driver's license" at least half a year later. It is difficult to take the road test, which makes China people reluctant to go to New Zealand to take the driver's license test.

8. Netherlands: China driver's license can be used for 6 months.

In the Netherlands, Chinese mainland's driver's license can only be used for six months. Then retake the exam, practice and take the road test.

9. Switzerland: China driver's license can be used for one year.

If the domestic driver's license is notarized, it can be used in Switzerland for one year, and then you need to take the local driver's license in Switzerland, and the road test is exempt from the theoretical test. The charge is 240 Swiss francs.

10, Italy: It can be legally used for one year.

China's driver's license can be legally used in Italy for one year after it has been translated and notarized by Italian courts. In this year, you can take an Italian driver's license while driving. After one year, if you haven't got it, China's driver's license can't be used here.

1 1. Norway: local application within one year.

From May 1 2004, Norway implemented new road management regulations and designated driving licenses from China. If you want to drive in Norway, you must apply locally within one year after landing in Norway, and hand in your China driver's license, official English certificate, application form, passport and character slogan. You will receive a letter in two or three days, and you can take this letter to StatensVegvesen to get in touch and pass a training. Training exam 635 kronor, driving license 195 kronor. But if you don't apply within one year, you will be regarded as a new scholar, which is expensive.

12, Sweden: China driver's license can be applied within one year.

China driver's license can be used within one year. If it is more than one year, if it is not permanent residence, you can find a company to apply for a license. Usually, the validity period of the license is equivalent to that of your license. Those who have permanent residency must retake the Swedish driver's license within one year. The process of the exam is the same as that of locals. Go to the driving school first, and then take the theory test. After passing the current road test application. You can also go through all the formalities yourself without looking for a driving school, but it is always inconvenient. The cost varies from person to person. The more classes you take, the more money you spend.

13, Denmark: China driver's license is only valid for the first 14 days.

The use of China driver's license in Denmark is discussed in more detail.

(1) If you stay in Denmark for a short time (with a visa within three months), your driver's license in China must be marked in Spanish (notarization is not required). If there is no western language, it must be translated by a nationally recognized translation agency), which is valid in Denmark.

(2) China driver's license is only valid for the first 14 days if you come to live in Denmark (with residence permit, address and yellow card), whether you are studying or working. If you want to continue driving normally, you must change your Danish driver's license within 14 days.

(3) To change a Danish driver's license, you have to take the test (theory+road test), but you don't have to study. Studying in a driving school in Denmark, individual 1 10,000 kroner, can save.

(4) You must live in China for more than half a year before you can change your driver's license. I'll go back to my hometown temporarily, get a driver's license by the way, and change it when I get back to Denmark, saving 10 thousand kronor more than the return trip. No way!

(5) renting a car is no problem. People in the garage see that you have a driver's license and don't know how long you will stay in Denmark. They have no right to ask these questions, so they have to rent it to you.

(6) Buying a car is "no problem". It is unlikely that the police will examine the driver's license. There are many Danish people who have not been found in driving without a license for decades.

14, Belgium: China and Belgium mutually recognize driver's licenses.

China and the Belgian Ministry of Communications have bilateral conventions on mutual recognition of each other's driver's licenses. China driver's license can only be legally translated and stamped by the court, so you can apply to the city hall where you live to change your local driver's license and get familiar with what drivers' licenses in various countries look like. ...